Way of the Wonghttp://www.wayofthewong.com
city secrets from an urban ninjaSat, 24 Jun 2017 23:00:20 +0000en-UShourly123342228Art Beyond the Glass is Back | June 25, 2017http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WayOfTheWong/~3/Yl7bdDpP6nU/
http://www.wayofthewong.com/2017/06/21/art-beyond-glass-back-june-25-2017/#respondWed, 21 Jun 2017 15:12:51 +0000http://www.wayofthewong.com/?p=4065Art Beyond the Glass is Back | June 25, 2017 by Way of the Wong

Mark your calendars. This weekend is the best reason to drink in Los Angeles. Art Beyond the Glass is popping up in Silver Lake on Sunday, June 25th at Los Globos. The sixth annual charity event celebrates the LA Cocktail Community and the artists among them, with proceeds always benefiting a charity: this year proceeds will benefit the award-winning storytelling radio program, The Moth. Every year is filled with more delicious cocktails than any one can drink, as well as all the best bartenders that this city has to offer. Bartenders pair with brands to craft delectable concoctions, and all the ticket […]

Mark your calendars. This weekend is the best reason to drink in Los Angeles. Art Beyond the Glass is popping up in Silver Lake on Sunday, June 25th at Los Globos. The sixth annual charity event celebrates the LA Cocktail Community and the artists among them, with proceeds always benefiting a charity: this year proceeds will benefit the award-winning storytelling radio program, The Moth.

Every year is filled with more delicious cocktails than any one can drink, as well as all the best bartenders that this city has to offer. Bartenders pair with brands to craft delectable concoctions, and all the ticket sales go to the charity partner. To date, Art Beyond the Glass has raised over $98,000 for arts based nonprofits in Los Angeles, Oklahoma City and Chicago. For those of you who wish this existed in your neck of the woods, ABTG will be returning to OKC in September 2017 and Chicago in the fall. ABTG will continue to grow with inaugural events in Las Vegas this fall, Miami in March 2018, and San Diego in Spring 2018.

Everyone gets into the fun with bartenders choosing themes for their cocktails which are reflected in costumes, props, and decked out stations. The art component is on view through photography and artwork created by bartenders and a stage where bartenders have showcased musical numbers, dance numbers, poetry, stand-up, and magic.

Just some of the bartenders and artists participating in ABTG VI this year include:

Ticket Information

Art Beyond the Glass VI will take place on Sunday,June 25th, 2017 at Los Globos from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Presale tickets for the event are $60.00 per person and are now on sale exclusively at Eventbrite until 12:00 Noon on Sunday, June 25th, 2017. If still available, tickets will be sold at the door for $75.00 per person. The all-inclusive Art Beyond the Glass VI ticket includes cocktails, art, entertainment, and bar bites. In addition, guests will be able to purchase bartender art, buy raffle tickets and bid on silent auction items such as artwork, photography, rare spirits and more. All proceeds from ABTG VI will be donated to The Moth.

Art Beyond the Glass VI is a 21 and over event. Please enjoy responsibly. ABTG strongly recommends using a rideshare service such as Lyft or Uber. For more information, please visit www.ArtBeyondtheGlass.com.

]]>http://www.wayofthewong.com/2017/06/21/art-beyond-glass-back-june-25-2017/feed/04065http://www.wayofthewong.com/2017/06/21/art-beyond-glass-back-june-25-2017/The Winners of the Time Out LA Bar Awards 2016http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WayOfTheWong/~3/3BfMgVDah1M/
http://www.wayofthewong.com/2016/05/31/time-bar-awards/#respondTue, 31 May 2016 14:53:35 +0000http://www.wayofthewong.com/?p=4028The Winners of the Time Out LA Bar Awards 2016 by Way of the Wong

The best bars and bartenders were lauded last week at Time Out LA’s inaugural Bar Awards in the historic The Theatre at Ace Hotel DTLA. The cocktail culture has grown leaps and bounds in the past few years, so it was only fitting that we should commend those who were rising above the fray and setting the standard for bars in Los Angeles. Yes, it is an honor to be nominated, but it is also a pleasure to win. Below are the winners from last nights events, along with their nominated brethren, so you can check out these fine establishments […]

The best bars and bartenders were lauded last week at Time Out LA’s inaugural Bar Awards in the historic The Theatre at Ace Hotel DTLA. The cocktail culture has grown leaps and bounds in the past few years, so it was only fitting that we should commend those who were rising above the fray and setting the standard for bars in Los Angeles.

Yes, it is an honor to be nominated, but it is also a pleasure to win. Below are the winners from last nights events, along with their nominated brethren, so you can check out these fine establishments and judge for yourself.

]]>http://www.wayofthewong.com/2016/05/31/time-bar-awards/feed/04028http://www.wayofthewong.com/2016/05/31/time-bar-awards/Retro Cocktailing with Vinyl Rewindhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WayOfTheWong/~3/Dc-YsZrjQE0/
http://www.wayofthewong.com/2016/03/24/retro-cocktails-whiskey-tasting-bourbon-vinyl-geek/#commentsThu, 24 Mar 2016 17:50:24 +0000http://www.wayofthewong.com/?p=4015Retro Cocktailing with Vinyl Rewind by Way of the Wong

Drinking Whiskey & Mixing Cocktails with the Vinyl Geek Drinking with friends is far more entertaining than drinking alone, so when my friend Eric asked me to join him for a whiskey tasting, naturally I obliged. Eric is the the Vinyl Geek and host of Vinyl Rewind where he reviews vinyl and mixes cocktails. We gathered for a sneak peek at Flaviar, a monthly tasting service that sends you five 45ml tasters of any spirit you choose: whiskey, rum, gin, or tequila. And if spirits aren’t your thing, Flaviar will send all the ingredients for a cocktail, as a monthly service as […]

Drinking Whiskey & Mixing Cocktails with the Vinyl Geek

Drinking with friends is far more entertaining than drinking alone, so when my friend Eric asked me to join him for a whiskey tasting, naturally I obliged. Eric is the the Vinyl Geek and host of Vinyl Rewind where he reviews vinyl and mixes cocktails. We gathered for a sneak peek at Flaviar, a monthly tasting service that sends you five 45ml tasters of any spirit you choose: whiskey, rum, gin, or tequila. And if spirits aren’t your thing, Flaviar will send all the ingredients for a cocktail, as a monthly service as well.

Well you can’t show up to a party empty handed, so naturally, I made cocktails for the guests. The name of this cocktail is the “Up-To-Date Cocktail,” an ironic name for a prohibition era cocktail from the Savoy Cocktail Book. It’s Manhattan-esque, which makes it an easy introduction for whiskey cocktail newbies, yet a welcome change for cocktail veterans due to the addition of sherry, which adds a welcome layer of complexity to a pretty basic cocktail.

Up to Date Cocktail

Here’s my take on the Recipe

Up-to-Date Cocktail

Traditionally, it calls for a rye, but we were tasting bourbon, so I used the sweeter Four Roses instead. In the future, I would probably use a rye if I made it for myself at home. I used Lustau’s East India Sherry, which is a blend of Olorosso and Pedro Ximenez, which gives it a sweeter quality, but any medium sherry would do; PDT uses manzanilla in their recipe. You can find the original recipe proportions and the origins of many of your favorite classic cocktails in one of my favorite apps, Martin’s Index, which contains 2000+ vintage recipes already, with more added every day.

6 Irish Whiskies You Want to Drink Beyond St Patrick’s Day I love Irish Whiskey. It’s always the place I start when I am introducing a non-whiskey drinker to the brown spirits. There’s an accessibility, with the light fruit undertones and lower proofs that ease a whiskey newbie into the delights that whiskey brings. So, I met up with Josh Peters from The Whiskey Jug to drink some Irish Whiskey, since the month of March always begs some questions leading up to St Paddy’s Day: What Irish Whiskey should I be drinking? What are some good Irish Whiskies? Where should […]

6 Irish Whiskies You Want to Drink Beyond St Patrick’s Day

I love Irish Whiskey. It’s always the place I start when I am introducing a non-whiskey drinker to the brown spirits. There’s an accessibility, with the light fruit undertones and lower proofs that ease a whiskey newbie into the delights that whiskey brings.

So, I met up with Josh Peters from The Whiskey Jug to drink some Irish Whiskey, since the month of March always begs some questions leading up to St Paddy’s Day: What Irish Whiskey should I be drinking? What are some good Irish Whiskies? Where should I start with Irish Whiskey?

To answer some of those questions, we sat down, had a few drams, and shared our thoughts. Click on the links to read The Whiskey Jug reviews & check out our videos below. If you like these episodes, be sure to subscribe to Way of The Wong on YouTube. You can find my guest, Josh Peters at TheWhiskeyJug.com.

]]>http://www.wayofthewong.com/2016/03/16/6-irish-whiskies-to-drink-on-st-patricks-day/feed/04002http://www.wayofthewong.com/2016/03/16/6-irish-whiskies-to-drink-on-st-patricks-day/Yo. Sip this new SPRITZ.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WayOfTheWong/~3/x_ohawmzZ7g/
http://www.wayofthewong.com/2016/02/08/ludlows-has-the-bomb-spritz/#respondMon, 08 Feb 2016 18:01:38 +0000http://www.wayofthewong.com/?p=3983Yo. Sip this new SPRITZ. by Way of the Wong

Yo. The Ludlows Kids have got a new Kickstarter and a new music video. Remember when Ludlows wanted to change your life with pre-packaged jello shots? Well now they’re offering you life of the party status, in the form of a bottle… of spritz. Spritzes, long the maligned sipper of evil step-moms and blue haired ladies who make appointments at the parlor, is now the hottest new thing in cocktails. Easy, refreshing drinkers, that you can have more than one of without getting sloppy, the Spritz will facilitate getting to third base when the apple-tini of girl drinks past would […]

Yo. The Ludlows Kids have got a new Kickstarter and a new music video.

Remember when Ludlows wanted to change your life with pre-packaged jello shots? Well now they’re offering you life of the party status, in the form of a bottle… of spritz. Spritzes, long the maligned sipper of evil step-moms and blue haired ladies who make appointments at the parlor, is now the hottest new thing in cocktails. Easy, refreshing drinkers, that you can have more than one of without getting sloppy, the Spritz will facilitate getting to third base when the apple-tini of girl drinks past would leave you cheek to cheek with the cold tile of your bathroom floor.

Seriously, the launch of this product will make your summer. So, drop a little cash on their Kickstarter, if you want to see this become a reality. Double bonus for Angelenos, you can celebrate Spritz all month with the Ludlow Kids at a series of events.

TO ATTEND ANY OF THE KICKSTARTER LAUNCH PARTIES ABOVE, PLEASE RSVP TO INFO@LUDLOWSCOCKTAILS.COM. SPACE IS LIMITED AND 21+ ONLY.

The Fancy Spritz TastingSunday, February 21st, 2­5pm @​Domaine LA

This one is fancy. Buy and peruse Talia Baiocchi and Leslie Pariseau’s (the wonder duo behind PUNCH magazine) new SPRITZ book​w​hile you do a tasting of spritzes from Ludlows Cocktail Co. and other fancy purveyors and producers. Get tickets here.

]]>http://www.wayofthewong.com/2016/02/08/ludlows-has-the-bomb-spritz/feed/03983http://www.wayofthewong.com/2016/02/08/ludlows-has-the-bomb-spritz/Golden State of Cocktails 2016http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WayOfTheWong/~3/UvXvDi16MX0/
http://www.wayofthewong.com/2016/01/22/golden-state-of-cocktails/#respondFri, 22 Jan 2016 17:23:46 +0000http://www.wayofthewong.com/?p=3959Golden State of Cocktails 2016 by Way of the Wong

Make plans for your bartenders weekend: You’re going to Golden State of Cocktails Golden State of Cocktails is back in the City of Angels. Celebrating all the delicious traditions, tastes, and techniques that contribute to the state of modern mixology, Golden State of Cocktails takes over The Majestic Downtown with a number of seminars and tastings for bartenders looking to sharpen their cocktail knowledge or events for consumers looking to appreciate the spirits, cocktails, and artisans who make up this industry. Golden State of Cocktails is cocktail nerdery at its finest. Here were some highlights from last year and some things I’m looking […]

Make plans for your bartenders weekend:
You’re going to Golden State of Cocktails

Golden State of Cocktails is back in the City of Angels. Celebrating all the delicious traditions, tastes, and techniques that contribute to the state of modern mixology, Golden State of Cocktails takes over The Majestic Downtown with a number of seminars and tastings for bartenders looking to sharpen their cocktail knowledge or events for consumers looking to appreciate the spirits, cocktails, and artisans who make up this industry.

Golden State of Cocktails is cocktail nerdery at its finest. Here were some highlights from last year and some things I’m looking forward to this year.

Last year: A seminar on bitters, with King Cocktail himself, Dale DeGroff

Tasting bitters through identical Manhattans, where only the bitters were changed, really allows you to taste how different bitters can change the experience of a cocktail, from the aroma to the palate.

This year: Seminars at #gscla 2016

These seminars, hosted by luminaries in the profession, are geared toward members of the hospitality industry & cocktail community.

Hot / Cold: Cigar and Spirit Production, Pairing and Flavor Workshop

Batching 101: exploring “Small Batch” vs “Single Barrel”

Smartphone Cocktail Photography

The Drink Download: The Intersection of Tech and Hospitality in the Digital Age

Last Year: Tasting New or Rare Spirits

Last year, I was treated to a sneak peek at the new Woodford Reserve Rye, which had just been released, as well as last year’s Birthday Bourbon, which had already sold out everywhere in Los Angeles. I loved last year’s Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection so much, that I was thrilled to find a bottle of the Sonoma-Cutrer finish at a local liquor store.

Last Year: Making my own barrel aged cocktail

Larceny sponsored a table where you could fill your own barrel with a cocktail. You could choose from a boulevardier or a manhattan, and I chose to put a manhattan in my barrel. It was delicious when I pulled it out a few weeks later.

Last Year & This Year: Demos & New Technology

PolyScience had many of their techy toys on view to demo for Golden State attendees, including sous vide machines, rotovapes, and centrifuges. Their Smoking Gun was the clear winner for visitors because of its theatricality and ease of use.

Last Year: Parties & Charity Events

This Year: Parties & Charity Events

Golden State of Cocktails is proud to support non-profit partner, LA Kitchen, whose mission is to reclaim healthy, local food that would otherwise go to waste and use it to empower, nourish, and engage the community.

Additionally, there are many events for consumers and bartenders to attend that benefit our local community and give back to the people who need it most. Here are a few that should be top on your calendar.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 23

Volunteer Day with the Bon Vivants (Open to All)
11 AM – 2 PM; Location: Covenant House California: 1325 N. Western Ave. Hollywood, CA 90027
Join The Bon Vivants for a midday service project at a local Los Angeles school.
Email hilary@cornerstonemktg.com to reserve your spot to volunteer!

]]>http://www.wayofthewong.com/2016/01/22/golden-state-of-cocktails/feed/03959http://www.wayofthewong.com/2016/01/22/golden-state-of-cocktails/Your Favorite Drinks of 2015http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WayOfTheWong/~3/cKYc8kNJSyo/
http://www.wayofthewong.com/2016/01/01/your-favorite-drinks-of-2015/#respondSat, 02 Jan 2016 00:25:33 +0000http://www.wayofthewong.com/?p=3946Your Favorite Drinks of 2015 by Way of the Wong

Cheers to 2015! There were many delicious ways to imbibe and indulge! These were the drinks you liked the most on Instagram – hopefully you had a chance to taste them! From the top right: Ancho-Villa at @TheTacoteca by the amazing @gioconda_s who is now at @estrellasunset Primus @thelovesongbar thanks to the lovely @catcip.cocktails Lovely Continga – one of the “Birds of the Forest” part of #Upstairs @acedtla’s bird themed menu – because that bar has some of the best bird watching in #DTLA Just underneath it, this was from my trip to Georgia, enjoying a Final Word at The […]

Cheers to 2015! There were many delicious ways to imbibe and indulge!

These were the drinks you liked the most on Instagram – hopefully you had a chance to taste them!

From the top right:

Ancho-Villa at @TheTacoteca by the amazing @gioconda_s who is now at @estrellasunset

Primus @thelovesongbar thanks to the lovely @catcip.cocktails

Lovely Continga – one of the “Birds of the Forest” part of #Upstairs @acedtla’s bird themed menu – because that bar has some of the best bird watching in #DTLA

Just underneath it, this was from my trip to Georgia, enjoying a Final Word at The Public Kitchen in Savannah.

One of the most surprising and delicious drinks of 2015, from @edwinosegueda’s new menu, “Critical Hit”, a drink with lemon, carrot & egg whites… and of course rum, tequila, and canela… this was creamy with baking spices… like carrot cake, but light and refreshing! @faithandflower

Royal Pisco Punch – a perfect summer drink @thefrontyardla by @williamcutting who is now at the new @residentdtla

Below that, this has #DTLA written all over it, “Pershing Square” from @barmattachine which opened this year! All the drinks help tell the story of Harry Hay and the Mattachine Society.

Then, the return of foie gras brought this beauty – a gigantic piece of foie gras on a bed of steel cut oats & strawberries @republiquela by the amazing chef @wmanzke

And last but not least, @joshgoldman2’s reimagined apple martini with fresh granny smith apple juice and house made sour and a piece of apple glass. From @belcampomeatco in Santa Monica. He shared his recipe with me for @chilledmagazine so google it if you’re adventurous enough to try to make it.

So, those were your #2015bestnine! Cheers to 2016 and more delicious ways to enjoy it!

]]>http://www.wayofthewong.com/2016/01/01/your-favorite-drinks-of-2015/feed/03946http://www.wayofthewong.com/2016/01/01/your-favorite-drinks-of-2015/Black Cocktail for Black Fridayhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WayOfTheWong/~3/RzSUaaZLxyY/
http://www.wayofthewong.com/2015/11/24/black-cocktail-for-black-friday/#commentsTue, 24 Nov 2015 16:00:04 +0000http://www.wayofthewong.com/?p=3887Black Cocktail for Black Friday by Way of the Wong

Who said Black Friday had to be about shopping? Black Friday is getting a makeover, with retailers like REI keeping their doors closed and some State Parks encouraging people to get out into nature and enjoy one another’s company. So give thanks, kick your feet up, and hang out with your family, dagnabbit. Yo! I understand, some people need a cocktail to enjoy their family… and I’m here for you. Here are some fun Black Cocktails to enjoy on Black Friday. I met up with Josh Suchan of Los Balcones in Los Angeles to show you how to make a smoky […]

Here are some fun Black Cocktails to enjoy on Black Friday. I met up with Josh Suchan of Los Balcones in Los Angeles to show you how to make a smoky black cocktail to take the edge off the holidays.

I put together a collection of dark as night cocktails to delight your guests, or just get you through the holidays. Featuring amaros, smoky mezcals, or captivating ingredients like squid ink & activated charcoal, these drinks originally ran in Chilled Magazine as Halloween Cocktails for Wicked Holiday Entertaining, but I’m not above recycling. It’s good for the environment, right?

Find the recipes at Chilled Magazine– 5 Black Cocktails for Halloween, Black Friday, or pretty much anytime you need some mystery in your life.

For those of you in Los Angeles – here are 3 drinks that you can try in our backyard.

]]>http://www.wayofthewong.com/2015/11/24/black-cocktail-for-black-friday/feed/13887http://www.wayofthewong.com/2015/11/24/black-cocktail-for-black-friday/Make the Most out of your Movemberhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WayOfTheWong/~3/kJ4OQh1K8_8/
http://www.wayofthewong.com/2015/11/02/make-the-most-out-of-your-movember/#respondMon, 02 Nov 2015 16:53:02 +0000http://www.wayofthewong.com/?p=3902Make the Most out of your Movember by Way of the Wong

Getting your Mo on Hey y’all – You know it’s Movember. The month when random people you know start sprouting furry caterpillars on their upper lips for the sake of men’s health. This year you can still go the classic route & grow a stache, or if you are follically challenged or a chick and don’t ever want any hair near your lip, you can make a commitment to move every day this month and get your friends and colleagues to donate to your campaign. Go all in with Jameson Last year Team Jameson raised over $400,000 for the Movember […]

Getting your Mo on

Hey y’all – You know it’s Movember. The month when random people you know start sprouting furry caterpillars on their upper lips for the sake of men’s health. This year you can still go the classic route & grow a stache, or if you are follically challenged or a chick and don’t ever want any hair near your lip, you can make a commitment to move every day this month and get your friends and colleagues to donate to your campaign.

Go all in with Jameson

Last year Team Jameson raised over $400,000 for the Movember Foundation, the most out of any global partner. So, this year they want to raise even more money. For every person who joins the Jameson Black Barrel Network (moteam.co/jameson-mo) from now through the end of November, Jameson will donate $100 to The Movember Foundation, up to $100,000. So any of you guys growing a mo or gals who are getting your mo-ve on for men’s health can kick start your fundraising with an easy hundo just by joining Team Jamo.

And every Tuesday during the month of Movember, Jameson Black Barrel is helping out with Mo Maintenance – and y’all can get in on the action. They’ve partnered with Floyd’s 99 Barbershop, offering a clean-up to help maintain yo Mo, free of charge, courtesy of Jameson Black Barrel. I stopped in for a blow-out & a cocktail – cuz Jameson Black Barrel was so kind as to offer one. To redeem your mo-trim, stop in on a Tuesday and mention “Team Jameson” during check out.

]]>http://www.wayofthewong.com/2015/11/02/make-the-most-out-of-your-movember/feed/03902http://www.wayofthewong.com/2015/11/02/make-the-most-out-of-your-movember/Beyond Brown, Bitter, and Stirredhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WayOfTheWong/~3/HiLKrp5eBiM/
http://www.wayofthewong.com/2015/10/17/beyond-brown-bitter-and-stirred/#respondSun, 18 Oct 2015 04:20:30 +0000http://www.wayofthewong.com/?p=3845Beyond Brown, Bitter, and Stirred by Way of the Wong

Used to reaching for a Manhattan when you want a drink that’s brown, bitter, and stirred? Bartenders these days are venturing beyond the Boulevardier & Old Pal into new territory. Incorporating amaros and other barrel aged spirits, making this category of cocktails so popular, it might be mistaken for a Kardashian. I wrote about the new guard of Brown, Bitter, and Stirred for Chilled Magazine – exploring the hallmarks of that style, discussing when to drink it, and discovering some new twists on the classic formula – featuring some recipes that you can make at home. Beam Suntory Master Mixologist […]

Used to reaching for a Manhattan when you want a drink that’s brown, bitter, and stirred?

Bartenders these days are venturing beyond the Boulevardier & Old Pal into new territory. Incorporating amaros and other barrel aged spirits, making this category of cocktails so popular, it might be mistaken for a Kardashian.

I wrote about the new guard of Brown, Bitter, and Stirred for Chilled Magazine – exploring the hallmarks of that style, discussing when to drink it, and discovering some new twists on the classic formula – featuring some recipes that you can make at home.